Olympic star McKeown tackles new challenge in world championships | phillutton78
The backstroke world is not enough for Kaylee McKeown as the dual-Olympic swimming champion begins her quest to add another event to her repertoire when she tackles the 200m individual medley at the world championships in Budapest.
She is unlikely to swim both events at the Paris Games in 2024 and the 200m medley is the favoured path, even if she’s probably a better campaigner over the longer distance. But both are gruelling and much will be revealed on Sunday in Budapest when McKeown steps out in the shorter version. Now is the right time for the 20-year-old to roll the dice with some new formats. But McKeown will have no opportunity to take her foot off the pedal, with strong competition across all her events in Budapest, beginning with formidable American Alex Walsh in the 200m medley.Walsh will start as favourite after a 2:07.84s effort at the US trials made her the quickest in the world this year. McKeown had little competition but went 2:09.